August 2007

The bay management program, initiated by CEA, continues with the arrival of additional buoys to mark areas for swimmers, boats, and other activities. Increasing use of the bay, especially by tour operators and boatloads of guests from nearby resorts, threatens people, boats, turtles, coral and the entire ecosystem. Fortunately, several of the properties on the bay—Akumal Beach Resort, Hotel Club Akumal Caribe, Las Casitas, Akumal Dive Shop, Akumal Dive Center, CEA—as well as local fishing tour operators and the Mexican environmental secretary (SEMARNAT) have reached consensus on the need for a management program.

Implementation and compliance with the program will be a long process, because the program intends to change behaviors, such as limiting where boats may moor, and replacing chlorine bleach used to clean the boats with environmentally neutral cleaners. CEA continues to promote accepted best practices for bay management, developed by the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) with the participation of many organizations like CEA, as well as marine resource users from around the world.

The businesses which agreed to the effort, and CEA using funds provided by the World Wildlife Fund, are helping pay for it. The program has been approved by Mexican authorities.